Bunch transfer device



May 29, 1962 Filed June 19, 1959 AKE R. sKARsTROM BUNCH TRANSFER DEVICE4 Sheets-Sheet l May 29, 1962 AKE R. SKARSTRGM 3,036,580

BUNCH TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 19, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 29, 1962AKE R. SKARSTRDM 3,036,580

BUNCH TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 19, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1962 AKE R.SKARSTRUM 3,036,580

BUNCH TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 19, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3,636,580Patented May 29, 1962 Fire 3,036,580 BUNCH TRANSFER DEVICE like R.Skiirstriim, Stockholm-Vallingby, Sweden, as-

signor to Arenco Aktiebolag, Stockholm, Sweden, 21

Swedish joint-stock company Filed June 19, 1959, Ser. No. 821,418 Claimspriority, application Sweden July 4, 1958 10 Claims. ((31. 13181) In themanufacture of cigars the cigar bunches are usually transferred by meansof a gripper guided for movement from the rolling table of a bunchmaking apparatus to a bunch shaping device. Readjustments of the gripperguide in dependence on unintentional changes of the relative positionsof the bunch making apparatus and the bunch shaping device caused bysettlements of the foundations of said apparatus and said device, aretime-consuming and diflicult. If there is a relatively large distancebetween the bunch shaping device and the bunch rolling table the bunchtransfer 'has had to be effected manually.

It is an object of this invention to provide for an automatic transferof the bunches from the bunch making apparatus to the bunch shapingdevice substantially irrespective of the relative positions of saidapparatus and device and the distance between them.

Another object of the invention consists of the provision of bunchtransferring means which will be operatively undisturbed by any minorchanges which may occur in the relative positions of the bunch makingapparatus and the bunch shaping device while said apparatus and deviceare operating.

Still another object of the invention consists in the provision of meansfor incessantly controlling the movements and positions of the bunchesuntil they have entered mold pockets in the bunch shaping device.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned, but which willbe apparent from the following detailed description of the apparatus andits operation in view, the invention consists in certain constructionsand combinations of parts which will be hereinafter fully described andset forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front eleva-tional view, partly broken away for betterillustration, of a bunch making apparatus and a bunch shaping deviceinterconnected by attachment members, drive means and a bunch transferdevice embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the bunch making apparatus viewed from theline IIII of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side view, partly in section and with some partsomitted in the interest of clarity of the bunch shaping device viewed onthe line III-III of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of certain parts of the assembly shown inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged elevational view of certain parts of the Shapingdevice on the line VV of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the bunch transferringcarrier member and part of its guide;

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional View taken on the line VII-VII of FIGURE6;

FIGURE 8 is a side eleva-tional view similar to FIG- URE 6 but showinganother embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 9 illustrates certain parts of FIGURE 8 in a retracted position;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the front end of a bunch rolling table,the bunch carrier member and associated parts in the relative positionsshown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a view substantially similar to FIG- URE 8 but showingstill another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 12 is a view, partly in section and substantially correspondingto FIGURE 9 but showing the modified embodiment of FIGURE 11, and

FIGURE 13 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIGURES l1 and 12with its parts in the relative positions shown in FIGURE 12.

In the various views like reference characters indicate the same or likeparts.

Referring to the drawings, the bunch making apparatus designated ingeneral by reference character B (FIGURE 1) has the conventional bunchrolling table 1 and rolling apron 2 operated by a bunch roller 4 (FIG-URE 2) mounted on a forked lever 3. Filler tobacco delivered from amagazine 51, for example by the mechanism shown in Patent No. 1,716,117,is wound by the rolling apron 2 into a binder and the bunch A producedthereby is delivered by the rolling apron 2 from the front end of therolling table 1 to a bunch supporting carrier member 25 consisting of arelatively thin plate slidably guided in a rail 6 secured to a plate 5fixed on the front end of the rolling table 1.

The forked lever 3 is pivoted on a shaft 13 secured to the machine frame14 and it is connected, by a pivot 7, with a forked rod 8, FIG. 2,carrying a roller 9 received in a groove 84 in a face cam 12 secured toa rotary shaft 11 and operating the bunch roller 4 in ordinary manner tobe reciprocated over the rolling table 1.

The guide rail 6 consists of two spaced parallel and interconnected barsand extends from the rolling table 1 to a bunch compressing, shaping anddrying apparatus, designated in general by reference character C. Thebunch shaping apparatus C and the bunch making apparatus B areinterconnected by angle irons 41 and are mounted on separate bed plates,but they are driven from the same main drive shaft 17 so that they forma single assembly when operating.

The bunch shaping apparatus C comprises a stepwise rotatable drum 16having mold pockets 18 of a shape corresponding to that of the finishedcigars. The drum 16 is secured to a shaft 19 which is rotatablyjournalled in posts 21 and 22 mounted on a table 23, FIG. 1, formingpart of the main frame of the shaping apparatus C. To the shaft 19 issecured a face cam 24, FIG. 3. A lever having three arms 31, 32 and 33is freely rotatably mounted on said shaft 19. To a stud 26 rotatablymounted in the arm 32 are secured a dog 28 and an arm 29. The arm 29 ispivotally connected to one end of a link 34 the other end of which ispivoted to one arm 36 of a double-armed lever which is freely rotatablymounted on a pivot 37 in the lever arm 33 and the other arm 38 of whichis operated by the face cam 24. The lever arm 31 is pivotally connectedto one end of a rod 30 the other end of which is forked and straddlesthe drive shaft 17 and which is operated by means of a roller 30amounted therein and engaging with face cam. 39 secured to said shaft.

By this mechanism, consisting of lever arms, links and cams, the drum 16will be rotated stepwise whereby each angular step corresponds to thepitch of the mold pockets 18. Every time the drum 16 is at rest it issupplied with a cigar bunch A transferred from the apparatus B.

For preliminarily shaping the hunches A and for guiding them when beingintroduced into the molds 18 of the drum 16 a pair of jaws 61 areprovided which coact with a vertically reciprocable loading member 62.The jaws 61 are each secured to a stud 63, FIG. 4. The studs 63 arerotatably mounted in an arm 64 secured to and projecting laterally froma vertical sleeve 66 which is secured to a bracket 60 fixed to the table23. At their rear ends the two jaws 61 are interconnected by a helicaltension spring 67 tend-ing to move said jaws apart. In the sleeve 66 ismounted a vertically slidable spindle 68 to which is secured a laterallyprojecting arm 69. To the arm 69 is secured the downwardly directedloading member 62 right above the center line of the drum shaft 19. Thespindle 68 is connected by a link 65 to an arm 71 which is secured to ashaft 72 rotatably mounted in a bracket 73 fixed to the post 21. A shaft76 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 74 on the table 23 and driven fromthe shaft 17 by means of a bevel gear 77, FIG. 4. To the shaft 76 issecured a face cam 78 operating an arm 70 which is secured to the shaft72 so that the spindle 68 will be moved up and down periodically. Thearm 69 is, as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 5, provided with a pair of cams81 which act upon rollers 82 on the jaws 61 so as to move said jawstowards each other and to grasp the bunch when the arm 69 is moveddownwardly. Thereby the jaws 61 will form a guide opening or channelhaving the same contour as the molds 18 of the drum 16.

In the guide rail 6 is mounted a slide 42, FIGS. 6 and 7 which isconnected by a universal joint, FIG. 7, to one end of a rod 43 the otherend of which is pivoted to an arm 44. The arm 44 is secured to shaft 46which is rotatably mounted in the bunch making machine frame 14 and towhich is secured another arm 47 connected to the frame 14 by a helicaltension spring 48. To the bottom side of the slide 42 is secured a thinplate 25 which is wider than the slide and projects beyond the left end(FIGURE 6) of said slide so that it forms the aforesaid bunch supportingcarrier receiving the bunches A from the bunch rolling table 1 andtransferring them to the bunch shaping apparatus C.

The plate 25 is guided by its lateral edges in longitudinal grooves 35in the guide rail 6. A stop member 18 secured to the arm 64 slightlybehind the rear ends of the jaws 61 is adapted to limit the longitudinalmovement of the bunches A and fix their longitudinal position when beingadvanced between the jaws 61.

The magazine 51 for the distribution of filler tobacco portions issuspended from a yoke 49 which is fixed to two spaced parallel verticalrods 52 slidably mounted in the frame 14. The magazine 51, the yoke 49and the rods 52 are devised and operated substantially as disclosed inPatent No. 1,716,117. Thus, the rods 52 are periodically moved up anddown by an arm rotatably mounted on a stud 2%) in the frame 14 andpivotally connected with one of said rods and controlled by a face cam50 secured to the shaft 11. To one of the rods 52 is secured a laterallyprojecting arm 53, FIG. 1, which, when the rods 52 are moved downwardly,urges the spring biased arm 47 downwardly so that the arm 44 will movethe slide 42 forwardly, that is to the left in FIGURE 1. By appropriateconfigurations of the cams 12 and 50 and their angular positions on theshaft 11 the movements of the rods 52 and the bunch roller operating arm3 are so timed, disclosed in Patent No. 2,563,032 that the slide 42 willbe advanced immediately after the bunch roller 4 has delivered a bunch Ato the carrier plate 25 on the slide 42 by means of the apron 2.

The drive shaft 17 is connected with the shaft 19 of the drum 16 bymeans of a shaft 54 and two bevel gears 55 and 56. By means of a shaft57 and two universal joints 58 and 59 the shaft 17 is also connectedwith the shaft 11. By appropriate configuration of the cams 39 and 50and their angular positions on the interconnected shafts 17 and 11,respectively, the drum 16 will remain immovable with one of its pockets18 in its uppermost position when the bunch carrier 25 approaches thedrum and for a short interval thereafter during which a bunch A isintroduced into said uppermost mold.

The mechanisms described herein operate synchronously so that the bunchA supported by the carrier 25 will enter the space between the openedjaws 61 and be arrested by the stop member 10 simultaneously as theloading member 62 occupies its uppermost position. When the slide 42 hasmoved the projecting leading end of the bunch supporting carrier plate25 into the narrow space 99 between the jaws 61 and the drum 16, saidplate 25 will still act as a support for the bunch and the spindle 68moves the loading member 62 and the earns 81 down- Wardly so that thecams 81 will close the jaws 61 about and against the bunch A and definean opening or channel located right above that mold 18 which occupiesits uppermost position. As soon as the jaws 61 have closed about thebunch, the slide 42 will be retracted whereby it pulls the bunchsupporting plate 25 out of the space between the jaws 61 and the drum16. When the arm 69 moves further downwards the parallel edges of theearns 81 are in engagement with the rollers 82 of the jaws 61 so thatthe jaws will be kept closed in fixed relative positions when theloading member 62 enters the bunch shaping channel between the jaws andmoves down through said channel and forces the bunch downwardly out ofsame and into the drum mold 18 registering with said jaw opening.Thereafter, or simultaneously therewith, the slide 42 is retracted toits initial position at the bunch making apparatus where the plate 25will serve as a receiver for the next bunch delivered from the rollingtable 1 and the drum 16 is rotated by the dog 28 through one mold pitchwhereafter a bunch previously introduced into one of the molds 18 andshaped and dried therein will be expeiled from said mold, for example bythe use of the mechanism disclosed in Patent No. 1,982,292. Thereafterthe arm 29, acting under the influence of cam 24 and the interconnectinglevers and link, moves the dog 28 out of that mold of the drum 16 inwhich it has been engaged during the rotary step of the drum and the arm32, under control of cam 39, moves the dog 28 through one mold pitchinto a position registering with the next succeeding drum mold, the arm29 moves the dog 28 into said mold and the arm 32 rotates the drumthrough one step so that the centers of the next succeeding empty moldwill occupy a position in the same vertical plane as the centers of theguide rail 6, loading member 62 and jaws 61.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 8 to 10 the bunch supporting carrierplate 25 is associated with a gripping member consisting of aclaw-shaped clamp 85. The clamp 85 is turnably mounted on a pin 92 inthe slide 42 to which the plate 25 is secured and it is also connectedby a pivot 93 to one end of a link 89 the other end of which isconnected to the pivot 27 by means of which the slide 42' is connectedto the rod 43 reciprocating the slide 42 and bunch carrier plate 25between both the end positions of FIGURES 8 and 9, namely in the manneras described hereinbefore. The guide rail 6 is provided with astationary abutment 94 for arresting the slide 42' so that the bunchcarrier plate 25 will occupy the position shown in FIGURE 9 in front ofthe bunch rolling table 1.

When the slide 42 and the bunch carrier plate 25 retracted by the link89, are arrested by the abutment 94 in their movement to the right(FIGURES 8 and 9) the rod 43 will continue its movement in the samedirection until the pivot 27 abuts the right hand end 87 of the slotv 88while the plate 25 remains in the position shown in FIGURE 9 forreceiving a bunch from the rolling table 1.

When the pivot 27' moves. to the right in the slot 88 it will also pullthe link 89 to the right so that said link will turn the clamp 85upwards into the position shown in FIGURE 9. After a bunch has beendelivered from the. rolling table 1 to the supporting carrier plate 25the rod 43 commences moving to the left from the position shown inFIGURE 9 whereby the pivot 27 will first move to the. left in the slot88 while the slide 42 and plate 25 remain immovable in their positionsshown in FIGURE 9. Thereby the clamp 85 will be turned anticlockwise bythe link 89 into the position relative to the plate 25 as shown aosaeeoin FIGURE 8 whereby the rear end of the bunch A will be pressed againstthe plate 25 and be retained thereon. When the rod 43 continues itsmovement to the left and the pivot 27 has engaged the left hand end 86of the slot 88 the slide 42 and plate 25 will be moved to the left intothe position shown in FIGURE 8 while the clamp 85 holds the bunch A. Asdescribed hereinbefore the plate 25 is introduced into the narrow spacebetween the drum 16 and the opened jaws 61 right above the uppermostmold 18 in the drum 16 whereby the bunch is introduced into the jaw gap.Thereafter the jaws 61 are closed about the bunch and the rod 43 willretract the slide 42' and bunch carrier plate 25 to the right wherebythe clamp 85 releases the bunch retained by the closed jaws 61.Thereafter the bunch is forced down into the mold 18 registering withthe jaw opening by means of the loading member 62.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 11 to 13 the bunch supporting carrierplate 25' is provided wth a suction passage 95 one end 90 of which isconnected with a hose 96 leading from a suction producing pump (notshown), for example that ordinarily used to establish a suction effectin the bunch rolling table 1. The suction passage 95 communicates withperforations 91 opening in the upper face of the plate 25'.

In the use of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 11 to 13 the bunch Adropping from the rolling table 1 onto the supporting carrier plate 25'is retained on said plate b the suction effect in the perforations 91acting on the right hand end of the bunch so that the bunch will not bedisplaced unintentionally on the plate 25 when being transferred to thejaws 61 in the manner as described hereinbefore. When the plate 25commences its retraction to the right it will, by overcoming therelatively moderate suction effect in the perforations 91, be pulled offthe bunch retained by the closed jaws 61.

I claim:

1. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member having mold pockets, a thin bunchcarrier member, a pair of relatively movable guide jaws separated fromsaid bunch shaping member by a small interspace and being positionedstationarily above said bunch shaping member, means for moving saidbunch shaping member to position said mold pockets seriatim below saidguide jaws, means for closing said jaws to hold said bunch and form aguide channel, a bunch loading member, means for moving said loadingmember down between said jaws to introduce the bunches into said moldpockets, reciprocatory means for periodically moving said bunch carriermember from said bunch making machine into said small interspace toposition a bunch resting upon said carrier member between the openedjaws above one of said mold pockets, control means operativelycontrolling said jaws, said loading member and said carrier member tooperate in timed relationship by closing said jaws when said carriermember has reached its position above said mold pocket and moving saidloading member down between the closed jaws after said carrier memberhas been retracted from said space between said jaws and said bunchshaping member, and a stop member adjacent said jaws to determine, thelongitudinal position of the bunches between said jaws.

2. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member having mold pockets, a thin bunchcarrier member, a pair of relatively movable guide jaws separated fromsaid bunch shaping member by a small interspace and being positionedstationarily above said bunch shaping member, means for moving saidbunch shaping member to position said mold pockets seriatim below saidguide jaws, means for closing said jaws to form a bunch guide channel, abunch loading member, means for moving said loading member down betweensaid jaws to introduce the bunches into said mold pockets, reciprocatorymeans for periodically moving said bunch carrier member from said bunchmaking machine into said small interspace to position a bunch restingupon said carrier member between the opened jaws above one of said moldpockets, control means operatively associating said jaws, said loadingmember and said carrier member to operate in timed relationship byclosing said jaws when said carrier member has reached its positionabove said mold pocket and moving said loading member down between theclosed jaws after said carrier member has been retracted from said spacebetween said jaws and said bunch shaping member, and a gripping memberfor urging the bunches against said bunch carrier member to fix thebunches longitudinally relative to said carrier member.

3. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member having mold pockets, a thin bunchcarrier member, a pair of relatively movable guide jaws separated fromsaid bunch shaping member by a small interspace and being positionedstationarily above said bunch shaping member, means for moving saidbunch shaping member to position said mold pockets seriatim below saidguide jaws, means for closing said jaws to form a bunch guide channel, abunch loading member, means for moving said loading member down betweensaid jaws to introduce the bunches into said mold pockets, reciprocatorymeans for periodically moving said bunch carrier member from said bunchmaking machine into said small interspace to position a bunch restingupon said carrier member between the opened jaws above one of said moldpockets, control means operatively associating said jaws, said loadingmember and said carrier member to operate in timed relationship byclosing said jaws when said carrier member has reached its positionabove said mold pocket and moving said loading member down between theclosed jaws after said carrier member has been retracted from said spacebetween said jaws and said bunch shaping member, a gripping memberpivotally connected with said bunch carrier member, and operating meansfor urging said gripping member against said bunch carrier member to fixthe bunches longitudinally relative to said carrier member, saidoperating means having a pivot interconnecting said reciprocatory meansand said gripping member and being displaceable relative to said carriermember towards and from said bunch shaping member, said carrier memberhaving two abutments for limiting the displacement of said pivot inopposite directions relative to said carrier member.

4. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member having mold pockets, a thin bunchcarrier member having a slot, a pair of relatively movable guide jawsseparated from said bunch shaping member by a small interspace and beingpositioned stationarily above said bunch shaping -member, means formoving said bunch shaping member to position said mold pockets seriatimrbelow said guide jaws, means for closing said jaws to form a bunch guidechannel, a bunch loading member, means for moving said loading memberdown between said jaws to introduce the bunches into said mold pockets,reciprocatory means for periodically moving said bunch carrier memberfrom said bunch making machine into said small interspace to position abunch resting upon said carrier member between the opened jaws above oneof said mold pockets, control means operatively associating said jaws,said loading member and said carrier member to operate in timedrelationship by closing said jaws when said carrier member has reachedits position above said mold pocket and moving said loading member downbetween the closed jaws after said carrier member has been retractedfrom said space between said jaws and said bunch shaping member, agripping member pivotally connected to said carrier member and adaptedto fix the bunches longitudinally relative to said carrier member, andoperating means pivotally interconnecting said reciprocatory means andsaid gripping member and comprising a link, a pivot interconnecting saidgripping member and one end of said link, another pivot interconnectingthe other end of said link and said reciprocatory means and extendingthrough said slot in which it is movable transversely between the endsof said slot forming abutments for said other pivot.

5. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member having mold pockets, a thin bunchcarrier member, a pair of relatively movable guide jaws separated fromsaid bunch shaping member by a small interspace and being, positionedstationarily above said bunch shaping member, means for moving saidbunch shaping member to position said mold pockets seriatim below saidguide jaws, means for closing said jaws to form a bunch guide channel, abunch loading member, means for moving said loading member down betweensaid jaws to introduce the bunches into said mold pockets, reciprocatorymeans for periodically moving said bunch carrier member from said bunchmaking machine into said small interspace to position a bunch restingupon said carrier member between the opened jaws above one of said moldpockets, control means operatively associating said jaws, said loadingmember and said carrier member to operate in timed relationship byclosing said jaws when said carrier member has reached its positionabove said mold pocket and moving said loading member down between theclosed jaws after said carrier member has been retracted from said spacebetween said jaws and said bunch shaping member, and means for retainingthe bunches on said car rier member by suction.

6. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member hav' ing mold pockets, a thin bunchcarrier member, a pair of relatively movable guide jaws separated fromsaid bunch shaping member by a small interspace and being positionedstationarily above said bunch shaping member, means for moving saidbunch shaping member to position said mold pockets seriatim below saidguide jaws, means for closing said jaws to form a bunch guide channel, abunch loading member, means for moving said loading member down betweensaid jaws to introduce the bunches into said mold pockets, reciprocatorymeans for periodically moving said bunch carrier member from said bunchmaking machine into said small interspace to position a bunch restingupon said carrier member between the opened jaws above one of said moldpockets, control means operatively associating said jaws, said loadingmember and said carrier member to operate in timed relationship byclosing said jaws when said carrier member has reached its positionabove said mold pocket and moving said loading member down between theclosed jaws after said carrier member has been retracted from said spacebetween said jaws and said bunch shaping member, and suction means, saidbunch carrier having openings communicating with said suction means forretaining the bunches on said carrier by suction.

7. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member having mold pockets, a thin bunchcarrier member, a pair of stationarily disposed relatively movable guidejaws separated from said bunch shaping member by a small interspace,means for moving said bunch shaping member, to position said moldpockets seriatim below said stationarily disposed guide jaws, a bunchloading member, reciprocatory means for first moving said bunch carriermember from said bunch making machine into said small interspace toposition a bunch resting upon said carrier member between the jaws aboveone of said mold pockets, means for then closing said jaws about thebunch, means for then retracting said carrier member from said spacebetween said jaws and said bunch shaping member, and means for thenmoving said loading member down between the jaws to introduce the bunchinto said mold pocket.

8. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member having mold pockets, a slide, a guidefor said slide extending between said machine and said member, a thinbunch carrier member secured to and projecting beyond the leading end ofsaid slide, a pair of stationarily disposed relatively movable guidejaws separated from said bunch shaping member by a small interspace,means for moving said bunch shaping member to position said mold pocketsseriatim below said stationarily disposed guide jaws, a bunch loadingmember, reciprocatory means for first moving said bunch carrier memberfrom said bunch making machine into said small interspace to position abunch resting upon said carrier member between the jaws above one ofsaid mold pockets, means for then closing said jaws about the bunch,means for then retracting said carrier member from said space betweensaid jaws and said bunch shaping member, and means for then moving saidloading member down between the jaws to introduce the bunch into saidmold pocket.

9. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member having mold pockets, a guide havingguide grooves extending between said machine and said member, a thinbunch carrier member consisting of a plate and having lateral edgesslidable in said guide grooves, a pair of relatively movable guide jawsseparated from said bunch shaping member by a small interspace, meansfor moving said bunch shaping member to position said mold pocketsseriatim below said guide jaws, a bunch loading member, reciprocatorymeans for first moving said bunch carrier member from said bunch makingmachine into said small interspace to position a bunch resting upon saidcarrier member between the jaws above one of said mold pockets, meansfor then closing said jaws about the bunch, means for then retractingsaid carrier member from said space between said jaws and said bunchshaping member, and means for then moving said loading member downbetween the jaws to introduce the bunch into said mold pocket.

10. In a device for transferring cigar bunches from a bunch makingmachine to a bunch shaping member having mold pockets, a thin bunchcarrier member, a pair of stationarily disposed relatively movable guidejaws separated from said bunch shaping member by a small interspace,means for moving said bunch shaping member to position said mold pocketsseriatim below said stationarily disposed guide jaws, a bunch loadingmember, reciprocatory means for first moving said bunch carrier memberfrom said bunch making machine into said small interspace to position abunch resting upon said carrier member between the jaws above one ofsaid mold pockets, means for then closing said jaws about the bunch,means for then retracting said carrier member from said space betweensaid jaws and said bunch shaping member, and means for then moving saidloading member down between the jaws to introduce the bunch into saidmold pocket, said bunch carrier member being pivotally connected to saidreciprocatory means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS129,674 Miller July 23, 1872 504,768 Williams Sept. 12, 1893 1,964,101Wheeler June 26, 1934 2,022,575 Stelzer Nov. 26, 1935 2,745,412Granstedt May 15, 1956

